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Hey there,
We made it to mid-December. (Barely🥶.)❄️
Yes, 2025 was a mess and there are memes to prove it. But, between all the crap, there were moments that made the year worth remembering.
Most of mine were quiet:
Spending time with friends where it felt like a warm hug.
Catching a glimpse of the amazing human emerging from the hormonal haze of tweenhood (there were SO MANY moods).
The surprise “hi” from people I haven’t heard from in a while.
Being in community that feels like home.
Getting lost in a book.
Micro joys. The moments that help you get through the heavier stuff. Human brains love to cling to the negative… those moments that hurt… but as we move into 2026 I hope you can look back and remember joy… no matter how small.
In the next few weeks I am looking forward to catching up on sleep, spending less time on devices, and hopefully having more of those small, joyful moments.
Scroll for a quick update and to see the new additions to the ⚒️Workbench!
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🧪Alchemy Notes
This year basically turned out nothing like I imagined.
My ability to get through it and pivot time after time is a testament to how much better I’ve gotten at “going with the flow” over the years.
Trust me, I have not always been able to do that, and while I had my challenging moments this year I kept moving forward.
A younger version of me would have definitely had a much harder time with this.
However, the one part of the year where I really impressed myself? Reading.
Now, this was partly escapism… but it was also making time for something I love (now if only I could love exercise this much).
There are still a couple weeks left in 2025, and as you can see from the Workbench below, I’m not quite done. But here are my YTD stats so far, courtesy of the StoryGraph:
⚒️The Alchemist’s Workbench
Why Workbench instead of TBR?
Because these are the books checked out from the library right now… aka the ones I’ll be reading soon since… you know… deadlines/due dates.
(I also have a stack of ‘owned but unread’ books, a queue of holds, and an endless ‘for later’ list on my library profile.)
But this Workbench is what’s literally on my table, not just on a list.
📖The Society of Unknowable Objects by Gareth Brown (Currently Reading)
I read Gareth Brown’s debut novel, The Book of Doors, earlier this year and when I saw he released another book I knew it’d be a must read.
📗The Women of Wild Hill by Kirsten Miller
I’ve had a lot of repeat authors on my list this year and Kirsten Miller is no exception. I’ll be quick to add anything she writes to my reading list.
📗Avalon Tower by C.N. Crawford and Alex Rivers
This one feels EXTRA SPECIAL to me because I’d seen it all over “bookstagram” and kept waiting for it to appear in the library catalog… but it didn’t. So, I filled out their online form to request a purchase and they bought it! And I was first in line to check it out once it came in. This was definitely a moment of joy in my year.
📗Likeable Badass by Alison Fragale, PhD
When, not one, but TWO badass women recommend a book you read it.
📗Tale of the Heart Queen by Nisha J. Tuli
Another small moment of joy? Getting to finish a completed series. This one is a great adventure for the fantasy and romance lover.
📗The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I’ve picked a lot of books this year because I kept seeing them all over. I’ve had pretty good success with them being good, so giving another popular read a chance.
📗The Brain at Rest: How the Art and Science of Doing Nothing Can Improve Your Life by Joseph Jebelli, PhD
I have a really hard time slowing down, unless I’ve already worked myself into the ground. I’m hoping there are some good learnings in this one.
💥The Home Collection
Alongside the Alchemist’s Workbench, I also have what I call The Home Collection…books I own and plan to savor slowly, revisit often, or keep for reference. There will only be books here if I have purchased or been gifted a new book, so it won’t have content every month (or at least that’s what my family hopes).
✨There are no new additions this month, much to the relief of my family.✨
📚 P.S. I read a lot… across strategy, memoir, psychology, and the occasional fantasy/romance/thriller/witchy novel. The book recs in this newsletter aren’t filler. They’re part of how I think, lead, and help clients navigate complexity. Want to see what else is on my shelf? Take a peek at my bookstore (affiliate link, updated regularly).
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👋🏻Let’s Not Make It Weird
Hi, I’m Tara, Founder and Chief Alchemist at Alchemy Advising. I help founders and execs untangle their finances, rethink pricing, and build smarter systems so their businesses can scale without burnout. After nearly 20 years in finance and ops (with brands like HOKA and UGG), I now bring that big-brand strategy to growing businesses who need clarity, not just spreadsheets.
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“Libraries are viewed as such solemn places—but why? Reading is magic. Think of the imagination and sense of adventure that readers employ every time they crack open a book. There are few places filled with more magic than libraries, no doubt about it.”